Circuit-controlling switching mechanism



Oct. 22, 1929. o. N. TEVANDER 1,732,344

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed. May 14, 1928 Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATTNT QFFICEV one! 1v. 'rnve vnnn, or CHICAGO, rumors, essrcnon ro STANDARD cAr a snap conronnrrron, or CIIICAGO, ILLINOIS, A conrone'rzon on vlne nre CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING SWITCZ'IIITG MECHANISM Application filed May 14,

My invention relates to circuit controlling switches and has for its object the provision of means whereby such a switch may be maintained for an interval of suitable duration in an adjustment to which it is brought.

The switching mechanism of my invention is of particular service when employed for soldering the overlapping ends of rings about the skirts of closure caps that have been applied to milk bottles, the mechanism of my invention assuring a sufficiently protracted closure of a heat producing electric circuit that is employed to flux the overlapping ends of a ring or the solder that is upon these ring ends whereby the caps are secured upon the bottles, such a method of applying closure caps to milk bottles being disclosed in Patents 1,635,510 and 1,635,515 issued to me July 12, 1927.

The mechanism of my present invention includes a movable contact actuating switch arm, a wheel having teeth in actuating and escaping relation to said arm and serving to place it in one position, said arm being constrained to occupy an alternative position upon being relieved of the actuating influence of the wheel, and delay mechanism operating upon said wheel to turn it to move the switch arm and to maintain said arm for an interval in its first aforesaid position.

The delay mechanism is desirably inclusive of a dash pot structure including a heavy self moving piston connected with a lever to operate on descent of the piston and cause apawl, operable by the lever, to turn said wheel, and an upright cylinder in which said piston moves vertically, there being a restricted outlet for the air displaced by the piston, in descending, to retard the movement of the wheel effected by the piston through the intermediation of the lever and pawl.

The invention will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, illustrating the mechanism of my inven tion as it is preferably constructed; Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with a portion broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a valve struc- 1928. Serial No. 277,726.

-ture by which therate of movement of the switch operating piston may be determined; Fig. 5 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another use to which the mechanism of the invention may be put. I

The circuit controlling switch illustrated includes a movable contact actuating switch arm- 1, the switch arm being preferably carried by a shaft 2 that defines an axis of turning movement for the arm that is intermediate the ends of the arm. Said switch arm is'desirably also inclusive a strip metal spring 3 which carries a metallic or current conducting contact block a. Two contacts 5 and 6 are adapted to be engaged by the spring 3 of the contact arm when said contact arm is turned clockwise. In Fig. 6 the contacts 5 and 6 are included in a bridge between the conductors 7 and 8 which are supplied with current from a suitable source 9. This bridge is shown as also including an incandescent-lamp 10. It is understood, however, that the equipment is not to be limited to any use to which it may be put. lVhen the switch arm is turned clockwise, the bridge circuit of Fig. 6 which includes the incandescent lamp 10 is closed. The switch arm is constrained to be moved in a counterclockwise direction by a coiled spring 11. which is suitably anchored at one end and which is connected at its other end with a finger 12 that is carried by the switch arm.

A wheel 13 is formed with sloping teeth that each have crowns 1 that are elongated peripherally of the wheel. Said teeth also have sloping portions 15 upon cords of the circle that embrace the wheel and drops 16 that are approximately radialwith respect to the wheel. The contact arm 1 carries a blocl; 17 which rides upon the sloping and crown portions of the teeth and which is in escaping relation to theteetlnsuch blockin escaping each tooth at 16 dropping into on gagement with the sloping portion 15 of the succeeding tooth, the spring 11 effecting the escape of said block from each tooth and the engagement of the block with the succeeding tooth as said wheel is turned. Through means of mechanism be hereinafter described, the wheel is slowly turned while the block 17 is in engagement with each crown or dwell 14 whereby the contact 4 is maintained in circuit closing engagement with the contacts 5 and 6 for an appreciable interval of time. As illustrated the wheel also slowly moves the block 4 into engagement with the contacts 5 and 6, though this portion of the operation is not an essential result of the device of my invention.

The wheel 13 moves in a counterclockwise direction in order to perform its function in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and as the structure of the invention is viewed in the drawing. The mechanism for moving said wheel in a counterclockwise direction includes a lever 18 which is journaled at one end upon the shaft 19 of the wheel and which is connected at its other end by a link 20 with the heavy self moving piston 21 of a dash pot structure. An actuating pawl 22 is pivoted upon said lever. Each time the switching mechanism is to be operated, said lever is turned clockwise sufficiently to bring the pawl into engagement with a fresh tooth and to raise the weighted piston 21 from the bottom of the upright cylinder 23 in which said piston moves vertically. Any means may be employed for thus moving the lever 18 for the purpose of engaging the pawl 22 with a fresh tooth. For example, I have illustrated a handle 24 upon the lever and which may be lifted in order to effect the desired adjustment of the lever, pawl and piston. When the lever has been moved clockwise to a sufiicient extent, for the purpose stated, it is released in order that the self moving piston may descend in the upright cylinder. In descending, the wheel 13 is turned counterclockwise, causing the block 17 on the switch arm to ride into engagement with the crown of the tooth engaged by this block. The contact block 4 is brought into engagement with the contacts 5 and 6 shortly before the block 1.7 reaches the crown of the tooth engaged by this block. The switch arm is in a stationary position during the time that the block 17 engages the crown of the corresponding tooth, the contacts 5 and 6 being then electrically connected by the contact block 4. In order that the duration of the engagement of the contact block 4 with the contacts 5 and 6 may be sufiiciently prolonged, a restricted outlet is afforded for the air that is displaced by the piston in descending. I have illustrated a vent 25 of fixed size and another vent 26 which extends through a nipple 27 upon which a cap 28 is screwed. This cap has an aperture 29 formed therethrough which may be totally closed when the cap is screwed home so that the air will then escape only through the vent 25 whereby the piston 21 is permitted to descend at its slowest rate. When the cap 28 is unscrewed, air may also pass through the vent 26 whereby the rate of descent of the piston is permitted to increase,

the cap serving to vary the rate of descent of the piston according to the position occupied by the cap.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a circuit controlling switch including. a movable contact actuating arm; of a wheel having teeth in actuatingand escaping relation to said arm and serving to place the arm in one position, said arm being constrained to occupy an alternative position upon being relieved of the actuating influence of the wheel; a lever for turning said wheel; a pawl operable by the lever into actuating engagement with the wheel; and a dash pot structure including a heavy self moving piston connected with said lever to operate it on descent of the piston and cause the pawl to turn said wheel; and an upright cylinder in which said piston moves vertically, there being a restricted outlet for the air displaced by the piston, in descending, to retard the movement'of the wheel effected by the piston through the intermediation of the lever and pawl.

2. The combination with a circuit controlling switch including a movable contact actuating arm; of a wheel having teeth in actuating and escaping relation to said arm and serving to place the arm in one position, said arm being constrained to occupy an alternative position upon being relieved of the actuating influence of the wheel; a lever for turning said wheel; a pawl operable by the lever into actuating engagement with the wh eel; and a dash potstructure including a piston connected with said lever to operate it and cause the pawl to turn said wheel; and a cylinder in which said piston moves, there being a restricted outlet for the air displaced by the piston to retard the movement of the wheel effected by the piston through the intermediation of the lever and pawl.

3. The combination with a circuit controlling switch including a movable contact actuating arm; of a wheel having teeth in actuating and escaping relation to said arm and serving to place the arm in one position, said arm being constrained to occupy an alternative position upon being relieved of the actuating influence of the wheel; and delay mechanism operating upon said wheel to turn it to move the switch arm and to maintain said arm for an interval in its first aforesaid position.

4;. The combination with a circuit controlling switch including a movable contact actuating arm; of a wheel having teeth in actuating and escaping relation to said arm and serving to place thearm in one position, said arm being constrained to occupy an alternative position upon being relieved of the actuating influence of the wheel, said teeth having crowns elongated peripherally of the wheel and serving to maintain the switch arm for an interval in its first aforesaid position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

OLOF N. TEVANDER. 

